Libya, Gaddafi, and the January 4th eclipse

From 642 until the 16th century, Libya was part of the great Muslim Empire – and was often linked to Egypt or Tunisia.* Interesting then indeed that events in Tunisia and Egypt are now having such a huge impact on Libya. In his Book of World Horoscopes, Nick Campion gives two possible horoscopes for Libya – the first horoscope is for the country’s independence from Britain – the second is for the military coup (Sept. 3 1969, 05.00, Tripoli). The horoscope shown here is for Libyan independence, Dec. 24th 1951, 00.00 Tripoli (source Book of World Horoscopes). This horoscope lights up like a flipper cast when viewed as bi-wheel with the Jan 4th 2011 eclipse, relocated for Tripoli.

Firstly – the North Node at the beginning of Capricorn in the eclipse horoscope – is triggering the axis of the world (i.e. the Aries Point) and is conjunct with the radix Sun in the horoscope of Libya. The Aries point quite literally dominated the astrology of 2010. Less we forget, this point is still hugely active – since we are still waiting for Uranus to cross it for the very last time – before entering into the longer lasting square with Pluto in Capricorn. The North Node is about future devolopement – and it seems like the whole Middle East has a date with destiny.

As was the case in Egypt – here too eclipse horoscope Saturn is conjunct with Saturn in the radix horoscope of Libya. Saturn rules structures and regimes and Libya is in the middle of its Saturn return, which is always a time of reassessment and new beginnings. Saturn – and this is an important consideration – is the ruler of the Jan. 4th eclipse. Furthermore, eclipse Sun/Moon are in opposition with Uranus – the planet of revolutions and social unrest – in the horoscope of Libya. In fact – eclipse Saturn which is square the Sun/Moon – becomes through the intervention of Uranus – the focal planet of a t-square. This considerably heightens the tensions – furthermore birth chart Mars (violence and brute force, police and army) is caught up in the configuration as well. The Gaddafi regime is using apalling violence – live bullets being fired at protesters – to stay in power. With eclipse Mars squaring radix Neptune (chemicals) – the fear currently being voiced by many protesters is that Colonel Gaddafi might use chemical weapons.

Saturn is retrograde at the moment – which could be viewed as backward moving structures and systems – retrograde movement however, also implies a turning around – Saturn must ultimately move forward. This is a natural law.

Clearly the next few days will be crucial – firstly transiting Mercury in Pisces (ruler of Gaddafi’s Gemini Sun) will square Gaddafi‘s Saturn – it was square to Gaddafi’s Uranus when he ranted and raved yesterday on the television, promising never to leave, and to go down fighting. Gaddafi also reminded the protesters last night that he hadn’t even begun to use violence, YET!! This statement is all the more alarming to astrologers who are aware that tomorrow transitting Mars – will square Libya’s radix Uranus. This could lead to radical action by the military leading to an increase in street violence. Or will Gaddafi himself be deposed?? Gaddafi has five planets in Gemini, Uranus, Saturn, Sun, Mercury and Jupiter, and Neptune in Pisces. He is a slippery fellow – with a forked tongue – whose words are like Quick Silver. A man capable of changing allegiances and his mind, at a flash. Gaddafi now clearly needs to move quickly. My gut feeling is that this is not a man who will go down fighting – he is not nicknamed the ‘fox’ without reason. I think that he would rather buy time – and in the meantime try to manoevre himself into a position which will always allow him an opportunity to slip through the net. The horoscope of Colonel Gaddafi: June 7th 1942, 12.00 (time unknown) Sirte, Libya

Over Liz Hathway

Liz Hathway is a British born astrologer currently based in Amsterdam. Liz studied astrology at the Kosmos in Amsterdam, at the Faculty of Astrological Studies in London and with well known horary astrology John Frawley. Liz also holds an MA (with distinction) in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, from the University of Wales, in Lampeter, and was short-listed for the 2016 Alumni Association MA CAA Dissertation Prize.